A recent survey indicates a potential exodus from New York City should Zohran Mamdani win the mayoral race. The JL Partners poll, as reported by the Daily Mail, suggests that 9% of the city’s 8.5 million residents—nearly 800,000 people—would “definitely” leave. An additional 25% would “consider” leaving if Mamdani were elected, raising concerns about the city’s future. This comes amid existing challenges, as a 2023 report by the U.S. Census Bureau noted that New York City experienced the largest population decrease in the nation between 2021 and 2022.
Mamdani has publicly stated his lack of concern regarding a potential population decline, outlining a plan to generate $10 billion for his economic agenda through increased corporate taxes. His proposal involves raising New York’s corporate tax rate to match New Jersey’s 11.5%, up from the current 7.25%. He argues that this tax would apply to any corporation doing business in New York, regardless of its headquarters location, thereby preventing companies from avoiding the tax by relocating to states like Florida. The implications of such a policy on New York City’s economic landscape remain a subject of debate.